By: Lonwabo Mtyeku | Photo Credit: Supplied
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | 13 February 2026
Women’s health took centre stage on the margins of Africa’s most influential political gathering as Dr Vivian Mokome and her business partner Fatima Moyane led a high-level African Union side event focused on advancing uterine health within primary healthcare systems across the continent.
Hosted on 13 February 2026 at the Sheraton Hotel, the strategic convening titled “Advancing Women’s Health in Primary Health Care: A Focus on Uterine Health” brought together an influential cross-section of stakeholders, including first ladies, ministers of health, policymakers, clinicians, multilateral partners, private sector leaders, women with lived experience, and global health experts.
The dialogue took place on the margins of the African Union Summit, ahead of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, widely regarded as the continent’s premier platform for shaping Africa’s political, economic and social development agenda.
Elevating a Neglected Health Priority
At the heart of the discussion was a pressing yet often overlooked issue: uterine health. Despite affecting millions of women and girls across Africa, uterine health conditions remain under-prioritised within public health systems, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach communities.
Mokome and Moyane used the platform to challenge this status quo, positioning uterine health not merely as a medical concern, but as a fundamental development, equity and human rights issue. Speakers highlighted how gaps in early detection, prevention, and continuity of care undermine women’s participation in education, economic activity and community life.
The convening called for concrete action across several priority areas, including early detection and prevention strategies, equitable access to essential uterine health services, community-level integration within primary healthcare systems, and sustainable policy and financing reforms.
Aligning Health with Africa’s Long-Term Vision
The event was firmly aligned with Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, reinforcing the principle that women’s health is inseparable from inclusive growth, social justice and continental prosperity. Participants emphasised that achieving universal health coverage in Africa will remain elusive unless comprehensive women’s health services are embedded at the primary care level.
As African leaders gathered in Addis Ababa — often described as Africa’s strategic heartbeat — the side event ensured that women’s health featured prominently within continental policy discourse. It also created space for building cross-sector partnerships capable of translating dialogue into actionable commitments.
A Pivotal Moment for Women’s Health
The leadership of Mokome and Moyane in convening this dialogue was widely recognised as a significant step forward in reframing uterine health as a priority that cuts across health systems strengthening, gender equity and sustainable development.
With momentum growing across the continent to reimagine primary healthcare, the engagement marked a pivotal moment in advancing a more inclusive health agenda — one that recognises that no woman, regardless of geography or income, should be left behind.
As Africa charts its future through the African Union’s highest decision-making platforms, this high-level dialogue underscored a clear message: investing in women’s health is not optional — it is foundational to the continent’s development trajectory.
Media inquiries: Tebogo Mbau (Publicist) | 065 685 7247 | tebogo@thekreativesagency.com
